Surgical ligation clip

Abstract

A polymeric, surgical clip is provided for clamping a blood vessel between two legs. A hook section of the clip comprises, in some embodiments, a sharpened forward edge and/or a sharpened rearward edge for penetrating connective tissue adjacent a vessel before closing the surgical about a blood vessel. The upper leg of the surgical clip may comprise an oblique flank for disposing over the one or more edge of the hook section, preventing damage to soft connective tissue surrounding the surgical clip postoperatively.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A polymeric surgical ligation clip, the surgical clip comprising:
 an elongated concave lower leg having a rearward end and a forward end; 
 an elongated upper leg having a rearward end hingedly connected to the rearward end of the lower leg; 
 a plurality of teeth protruding outwardly from one or more of the lower leg and the upper leg; 
 a hook section jutting outwardly from the lower leg and cantilevers over the lower leg, the hook section and lower leg together defining a latching recess for engaging a distal end of the upper leg, the hook section having a forward edge and a rearward edge, the rearward edge sharpened for incising soft tissue when the surgical ligation clip is closed within soft tissue; 
 an oblique flank connected to the distal end of the upper leg, the oblique flank extends from the upper leg at a location proximal to a terminal distal end of the upper leg; wherein the oblique flank protrudes outwardly from the upper leg to a point more distal than the terminal distal end of the upper leg; wherein a recess is created between a lower surface of the oblique flank and an upper surface of the upper leg, the oblique flank configured to clamp down over the leading edge to prevent damage to soft tissue during surgery and postoperatively. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , wherein the oblique flank is formed as an integrated piece with the upper leg. 
     
     
       3. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , wherein the entire surgical clip is formed as one integrated piece. 
     
     
       4. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the upper leg further comprises a distal tooth for piercing soft tissue. 
     
     
       5. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bosses for engaging jaws of an applier. 
     
     
       6. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , where a stress cavity is formed at the connection point of the upper leg and the lower leg. 
     
     
       7. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , wherein the hook further comprises a sharpened forward edge. 
     
     
       8. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , wherein the hook section further comprises a sharpened tip. 
     
     
       9. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical clip is fabricated from one or more bioabsorbable materials. 
     
     
       10. The surgical clip of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical clip is rendered radio opaque. 
     
     
       11. A polymeric surgical ligation clip, the surgical clip comprising:
 an elongated concave lower leg having a rearward end and a forward end; 
 an elongated upper leg having a rearward end hingedly connected to the rearward end of the lower leg; 
 a plurality of teeth staggered protruding outwardly from one or more of the lower leg and the upper leg; 
 a hook section jutting outwardly from the lower leg and cantilevers over the lower leg, the hook section and lower leg together defining a latching recess for engaging a distal end of the upper leg, the hook section having a sharpened tip for incising soft tissue when the surgical ligation clip is closed within soft tissue, the hook section having a sharpened leading edge and a sharpened rearward edge; 
 an oblique flank connected to the distal end of the upper leg, the oblique flank extending from the upper leg at a location proximal to a terminal distal end of the upper leg; wherein the oblique flank protrudes outwardly from the upper leg to a point more distal than the terminal distal end of the upper leg; wherein a recess is created between a lower surface of the oblique flank and an upper surface of the upper leg, the oblique flank configured to clamp down over the hook section to prevent damage to soft tissue during surgery and postoperatively.